Cam operated closure



AUS- 10, 1955 A. F. DRlscoLL 3,199,749

CAM OPERATED CLOSURE Original Filed Feb. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

MMX/QM A 7' TDRNIYS Aug- 1955 A. F. DRascoLL 3,199,749

CAM OPERATED CLOSURE Original Filed Feb. 9, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jll ,66 :Hz ,5o fj. 12

15a Mun 33 /69 166 m 15e INVENTOR.

X M. WAN Mmmm M km A TTORNE YS United States Patent O 3,199,749 CAM OFER'IED CLQSURE Anthony E. lriscoli, 6528 7 8th St., Middle Village, Long Island, FLY.

Griginai application Feb. 9, 1959, Ser. No. 791,903, now Patent No. 3,101,877, dated Ang. 27, 1963. Divided and this application Ang. 22, 1963, Ser. No. 393,837

8 Ciaims. (Cl. 222-529) This application is a division of my application Serial No. 791,903, led Feb. 9, 1959, and now Patent No. 3,101,877.

This invention relates to closures for jars, tubes, bottles or other containers.

Screw caps for containers have numerous advantages and probably the most outstanding is the cam action in tightening of the cap to seal the container as the cap is turned in the direction to screw it on the container. Ordinary screw caps have two important disadvantages, however, in that they are easily lost when removed from the container, and they open the entire mouth of the container when removed to permit the contents to be poured. A container closure having the advantages of the screw cap without the disadvantages is disclosed in Patent No. 2,123,907, issued July 19, 1938, to Masbach and Driscoll.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved container closure of the type disclosed in the Masbach and Driscoll patent. More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide a construction, and method of making it, which insures more uniform operation of closures of the character indicated when such closures are made by mass-production methods. With this invention, manufacturing tolerances in the closure become less critical, and the closures produced in accordance with this invention seal etectively and are uniform in the ease of operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide constructions which make closures of the Masbach and Driscoll type suitable for use on containers in which liquids are sold. The improved construction is even suitable with bottles.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a slide cap which is particularly useful for collapsible tubes, and these slide caps operate on a principle similar to the rotary cap and are held on the container even when in open position.

The cost of a closure is of the utmost importance on containers in which any goods are sold. No matter how good a closure may be, if it is high in cost it is impractical for commercial use on containers which are used as packages and then discarded. By providing improvements which reduce the necessary manufacturing tolerances, with resulting reduction in cost, this invention provides an important improvement in making thread or cam-operated closure caps.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear or be pointed out as the description proceeds.

In the drawing, forming a part hereof, in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views:

FIGURE l is a side view, partly broken away and in section, showing a closure hub made in accordance with Patented Ang. 10, i955 ICC this invention and attached to the top of a powder can;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the hub, shown in FIGURE 1, with the cap of the closure in assembled relation with the hub;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are fragmentary, reduced-scale, top plan views of the closure shown in FIGURE 2 with the cap shown in closed and open positions in FIGURES 3 and 4, respectively;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional View of a modified form of closure cap constructed of plastic material;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view showing a cap and closure hub of a modified form of the invention used on a bottle neck;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the assembly shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a top plan View of another modied form or the invention for use on powder cans;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of still another modified form of the invention in which the closure is a slide cap for use primarily on collapsible tubes but which can be used on other types of containers, if desired;

FIGURE l0 is a displacement diagram illustrating the principle of operation of the invention;

FIGURE 11 is a View, partly in section, showing another modiiied form of the invention;

FIGURE 12 is a greatly enlarged sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 11 but with the hub attached to the upstanding tlange of the top of the container;

FIGURE 13 is a top plan View of the hub shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a sectional view through a cap which ts over the hub shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 15 is a top plan view of the cap shown in FGURE 14;

FIGURE 16 is a sectional view showing the cap of FIGURE 14 assembled with the hub of FIGURE 12 to make the complete closure assembly, and shows openings formed in the top wall ofthe hub;

FIGURE 17 is a top plan View of the structure shown in FIGURE 16, but with the cap rotated to close the openings through the closure;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective View showing another modied form of the invention;

FIGURE 19 is a sectional view through a modified form of inner cap for an assembly such as shown in FIGURE 6; and

FIGURES 20 and 21 are fragmentary views, partly in section, showing two more modified forms of the invention. i

FIGURE 1 shows a powder can 11 having a side wall 12 and a top wall 13 connected -to the side wall by interlocking corrugations 15. There is an opening 17 through the top wall, and a closure hub 2i) is connected to the top wall 13 around the edge of the opening 17.

In the construction shown, the closure hub 2t) has a side wall 22 with a shoulder 23 formed by an outwardly extending corrugation near the lower end of the wall 22. This shoulder 23 limits the extent to which the hub 2t) can be inserted into the opening 17 in the initial assembly of the hub and can; and the bottom edge of the side wall 22. is ared out at 25 to clamp the edge of the top wall 13, around the opening 17, firmly against the shoulder 23. This secures the closure hub 2t) to the top wall 13 and it is an operation which is performed before the top wall 13 is assembled with the sidewall 12 of the can 11.

The closure hub 2i) has a top wall 26 and there is an opening 8 (FIGURES 2, 3 and 4) in the top wall 26 on one side of the center of the top wall and extending for only a limited angular distance. In the construction shown, the opening 23 is shaped like a sector 4for a circle. There are grooves 3G (FIGURE l) on opposite sides of the closure hub 28, and each of these grooves 3) extends for a substantial angular distance around the circumference of the closure hub 28; the angular extent being preferably more than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Each of these grooves 38 is preferably highest near the center of its length and shaped so that it slopes downwardly toward both ends of the groove. The grooves 3i) serve the function of a cam for moving a cap up and down on the closure hub 20 in a manner similar to the operation of a screw thread.

There is a circumferentially-extending row of small ridges 33 around the hub 2t) at a short distance below the juncture of the side wall 22 with the top wall 26. The ridges in this row 33 extend transversely of the circumferential extent of the row and they are'formed by a feed roller on a machine which rotates the closure hub 2t) during the manufacture of the hub. By making the hub with the ridges 33 a much more positive drive is obtained and a more uniform product in the manufacture of the closure hubs 20. The ridges 33 reinforce the hub and hold it to the desired shape. These ridges do provide a roughness, however, on the outside side surface ofthe hub on which the closure cap rotates. This does not interfere with the operation of the closure because a cap 36, which fits over the hub 20, is provide with a clearance, indicated by the reference character 3S, from the circumferential area of the hub on which the row of ridges 33 is located.

The cap 36 has a side wall 49 and a top wall 42. The side wall has a circumferential area of increased diameter located immediately over'the row of ridges 33 for obtaining the clearance 38. This area of increased diameter is preferably made with axially extending ribs 44 or knurling to facilitate the gripping of the cap in order to turn it when the fingers are wet and slippery.

There is an inwardly-projecting indentation 46, preferably of susbtantially circular cross section, on each side of the cap 36 in position to engage in one or the other of the grooves 3i). These indentations 46 are diametrically opposite one another on the cap 36.

As the cap 36 is rotated about the longitudinal axis of the hub 20, the indentations move along the cam grooves 30 and serve as cam followers to move the cap 36 axially in accordance with the component of axial displacement of the cam grooves 3). The inside surfaces of Vthe cap 36, below the cam groove 3S and above the row of ridges 33, turn on the outside surface of the closure hub 20 as a bearing. The running clearance of the cap 36 on the outside surface of the hub 20 is not critical and a fairly wide degree of manufacturing tolerance is permissible without affecting the practical operation of the cap 36 as a closure for the can.

There is an opening 48 in the top wall 42 of the cap 36; and this opening 48 is preferably of the same shape as the opening 28 in the top wall 26 of the closure hub 28. The openings 28 and 48 are located at substantially the same distance from the center of the hub 20 so that the openings register, as shown in FIGURE 2, when the cap 36 .is in a particular angular position.

Rotation of the cap 36 in a clockwise direction through an angle of approximately 90 degrees brings the opening 48 into the position shown in FIGURE 3 where no portion of it overlaps the opening 28. WithV the cap 36 in this position, the container is closed. FIGURE 4 shows the openings 28 and 4S in substantial alignment with one another, the positions occupied when the container is open and previously illustrated in FIGURE 2.

The construction shown in FIGURES 1 through 4 is preferably made of metal. In all modifications of the invention, when made of metal, the temper of the material is important. A certain hardness is necessary to obtain spring action in the parts for correct performance. If too hard, it is difficult to form the metal. Best results are obtained with metal from commercial 1A to 1/2 hardness, but the cap can be of plastic construction. FIGURE 5 shows a plastic cap 50 with an opening 52 corresponding to the opening 48 of the metal cap 36 shown in FIG- URES 2-4.

The cap 59 has two inwardly extending nubs 54 which are molded as a one-piece construction with the side walls of the cap. It wa-s formerly thought that plastic caps could not be made at low cost because of the necessity for complicated molds for making the nubs 54 which would prevent stripping of the cap 59 from conventional molding equipment.

This vmolding difficulty is overcome with this 4invention AIby constructing the nubs 54 so that their surfaces extend 'at a slope to the side wall, thus giving the sides of eac-h of the nubs 54 a cam surface which exerts a radial component of force for displacing the sides of the `cap 50 outwardly far enough to slip over the core when stripping the cap from the core on which it is molded.

The combined resilience of the cap 36 or Si) and the closure hub 20 permits the caps to be pushed down over the closure hub until the indentations 46 or nubs 54 engage in the cam grooves 30 of the closure hub; but the caps cannot be pulled off the hub lby any force which can be exerted manually in the use of the closure.

FIGURE 6 shows a modified form of the invention for use with liquids. This modification is constructed for connection to a bottle neck 60, and it includes a hub portion 62 and Ia cap 64. There is a liner disc 66 cover- Iing the bottom face `of the top wall 68 of the hub 62. The purpose of this liner is to prevent the contents of the bottle from coming into contact with the metal hub 62 when the bottle is not in an upright posit-ion, or when the liquid in the bottle splashes. The hub 62 is held on the bottle neck by turning the bottom edge portion 70 of the side wall of the hub 62 inwardly under a circumferential ridge 72 on the outside of the bottle neck. This @inwardly-turned lower edge 79 provides a flange that clamps the top wall 68 firmly against the liner 66 .and holds `the liner sealed against the upper end of the bottle neck 623.

In order to provide a completely tight liquid seal, the top wall 68 of the hub 62 is made without any openings.

K However, there is an area 76 'outlined by a score 78 (FIG- URE 7) in the top wal-l 68 and there is preferably a smaller area 80 surrounded by a score 82 -in the top wall 68 on the other side of the center of t-he closure from t-he area 76.

ByV applying a substantial downward pressure to the areas 76 and 8G, the metal within the score lines 78 and F S2 is displaced downwardly, as shown in FIGURE 6,

to form tabs indicated by the reference characters 76 and 80. The material of the liner 66 tears along approximately the same lines as the areas 76 and 88 as the result of t-he downward pressure of the metal displaced from the top wall 62. This leaves openings through the top wall 68 of the hub portion 62, the edges of the open- Yings being the score lines 78 and S2. These score lines are preferably made deepest along the portions which lare nearest to the circumference of the top wall 68, and the score lines are most shallow at the regions farthest from the circumference of the top wall 63. This insures [that the tabs 76' and 89', which are displaced from the top wall, will bend inwardly toward the center axis of the bottle neck 60; such a result being advantageous for smoother pouring of the contents from the bottle. The liquid is poured through the larger opening left by the tab 76 and the purpose of the opening left by the tab 88 is to admit air into the bottle so that the liquid can be poured without gurgling.

The cap 64 has openings 86 and 88 which register with the openings through the top wall 68 of lthe hub 62 when the cap 64 is in one angular position. As in the case of the cap 36, shown in FEGURES 2 4, the cap e4 can be rotated about its center so as to move the openings 86 and 88 into the dot-and-dash line positions shown in FIG- URE 7. This closes the bottle and seals it against pou-ring or evaporation of its liquid contents.

FIGURE S shows another modied form of the invention in which a number of openings 91 extend through a cap 92 and they can be brought into register with corresponding openings 93 in the hub portion of the closure. This construction is similar to certain powder cans which have a plurality of openings which can be closed by rotation of the lid, and the purpose of this figure is to illustrate the fact that such a cap can be used with the camoperated closure of this invention provided that the cam grooves are made short enough to shift the cap axially within the reduced angular movement of ythe cap which is made necessary by having a plurality of openings 91.

FIGURE 9 shows the invention applied to a slide cap. In this modication of the invention there is a block 100 which serves as the hub of the closure, and this block is connected to a flange 162 at its lower end, the harige 102 being secured to a top wall 1G41 of a collapsible tube or other container with which the modified structure of FGURE 9 is intended to be used. The flange 11;@2 and block 19t) cover an opening in the top wall 16d, and there is a smaller opening 1% in the top wall of the blocs 169. Cam grooves 18S are formed in the opposite side walls of the block 109.

The modiication shown in FGURE 9 includes a slide cap 112 having a top wall 114, with a liner covering its bottom face, and side walls 116. There are indentations 118 in the side walls 116 in position to engage the cam grooves S of the block 169. The left-hand end of the top wall 114 of the slide cap 112 moves beyond the opening 165 when the cap 112 is moved longitudinally to bring the indentations 118 to one end of the cam grooves 10S. The contents of the tube can then be discharged through the opening 106.

When the slide cap 112 is moved in the opposite direction, the indentations 118 moved toward the other ends of the cam grooves 1133 and the cap 112 comes to rest in a position with its top wall 114 closing the opening 156 and with its opposite ends substantially even with the corresponding ends of the block 1%. Where the construction is made with fairly wide manufacturing tolerances, it is desirable to have the length of the slide cap 112 slightly less than the length of the block 1431i so that the ends of the cap 112 do not project beyond the ends of the block 10i? when in closed position. The forward end of the cap 112 will, of course, project substantially beyond the forward end of the block 191i when the slide is moved into the dotted line position shown in FiGURE 9 to uncover the opening 1116 to discharge the contents from the container or tube 164.

The slide cap 112 is made of metal or other material having sufiicient resilience to enable the wails 116 to be spread slightly when passing the indentations 11S over the sides of the block 112 to bring them into position to er1- gage the cam grooves 1%. The slide cap 112 is of suticiently thick material, however, to prevent the side walls 116 from spreading and permitting the indentations 11% to escape from the cam grooves 163 as the result of any manual torce which is applied to the closure assembly when in use.

FIGURE 10 is a displacement diagram in which a cam groove 126 is developed so that the illustration of it is not affected by the curvature of the hub portion of the closure in which the cam groove is formed. This figure is for the purpose of illustrating the principle of operation of the various closures illustrated in the other figures. r1`he indentation in the cap is indicated by the reference character 123, the top wall of the cap by the reference character 131i and the top wall of the hub portion by the reference character 132.

When the indentation 1213 is at the high part of the cam groove 126, it raises the top wall 13@ out of Contact with the wall 132 of the hub portion. As the indentation 128 moves toward the left, toward the position indicated by the reference character 128', the top wall 130 of the cap is moved downwardly into the dotted line position indicated by the reference character 131i', and this brings the bottom surface of the top wall 131B into contact with the top surface of the wall 132 of the hub portion. This occurs when the cap has moved into position to cover the opening in the hub portion, and the pressure of the top wall 13@ against the wall 132 of the hub portion effectively seals the opening through the hub portion.

1n the construction shown in FIGURE 10, the cam groove 128 extends for some distance beyond the position 12S and preferably rises slightly so that the pressure between the walls 131i and 132 is relieved somewhat and there is no danger of the cap moving back into open position as the result of vibration. This feature of the slight upward slope of the end portion 13d of the cam groove is a feature which can be used with any of the cam grooves illustrated in the other figures, but it is ordinarily not necessary because the friction of the confronting surfaces of the walls and 132 is sutiicient to prevent the closure from opening as the result of vibration.

It will `be evident that with the indentation in the position 12S', any force applied to the closure cap to move it into open position, especially in cam grooves which do not have the rest stops or upwardly sloped end portions 134, the force to rotate or move the wall 13G, which is represented by movement toward the right in FIGURE 10, tends to relieve the friction between the walls 1319 and 132 by moving the confronting surfaces of these walls with a component of the motion shifting the walls away from one another.

During motion of the indentation from the position 1255 to the position 12S, the wall 130 moves away from the wall 132 and the frictional resistance encountered is merely that slight resistance resulting from the movement or" the side wall of the cap along the side wall of the hub portion. This running clearance is sufficient to prevent any substantial friction.

Continued movement of the indentation 12S toward the right in FIGURE 10 brings the cap wall 13@ into position where its opening is in register with the opening in the hub wall 132; and when these openings are in register', the indentation 123 is in the position indicated by the reference character 12d. The cam groove 128 brings the cap wall 13S :back into Contact with the hub wall 132 when the cap reaches open position; and there is a rest stop, i.e., a slight lupward slope at this end of the cam groove.

FIGURE 11 shows another modification of the invention in which a can or cannister 14h has a top wall 142 connected to it along a seam 144. The top wall 142 has an upturned iiange 146 around an opening 148 through the top Wall.

A closure hub 151i has a side wall 152 extending downwardly to a lower fold 15d. This hub 15G, which is preferably made of resilient metal, extends outwardly and then upwardly at the lower fold 154 to an upper fold 156 at which the material of the hub extends outwardly and then downwardly. The portion of the hub between the lower fold 154 and the upper fold 156 provides a wall 158 (FIGURE l2) which fits snugly within the upturned ilange 146. The hub is pushed down into the opening 143 `until the upper fold 156 strikes against the top of the upturned iiange 146.

The hub is then secured to the upturned flange 146 by rolling, -or otherwise connecting, the upper fold 156 to the outside of the ange 146. FIGURE 12 shows a phantom roller 1611 rolling the outer portion of the upper fold 156 into tight contact with the flange V146 of the top wall 142. If desired, the connection of the hub 150 to the flange 146 can be supplemented with solder 162, but for most purposes this is not necessary. Where a tight seal is important, ya sealing compound 164 is placed within the upper fold 156 before the hub is placed on the ange 146.

`The upper portion of the hub 159 is similar to the hub 2t) shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, and corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters as in FIG- URES 1 and 2, except that the top w-all, indicated by the reference character 166, is of domed contour as compared with the flat top wall of the hub structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

There are depressed areas 16S and 169 in the top wall 166 and these areas are depressed from the top wall to produce openings. The larger area 168 is used to make a discharge opening and the smaller area 169 is displaced from the top wall to provide a vent opening. In the construction shown in FIGURE 12, the area 168 is formed by displacing metal downwardly along an abrupt shoulder 170; and the metal is weakened at this shoulder. At the area 169 the downward displacement is along a gradual arc and such an inclination of the area to be punched out may be used in place of the abrupt shoulder 170 or -any of the other areas previously described.

FIGURES 14 iand 15 show a cap 175 which is similar to the cap 36 shown in FIGURES 2`4 except for the shape of the openings through the cap, and the shape of the lower portion -of the side wall of the cap. Below the indentations 46 of the cap `shown in FIGURE 14, there is a circumferential corrugation 176, the lower side of which preferably includes the bottom edge of the cap. This reinforces the cap and also holds the cap to its round :shape and counteracts a tendency of the cap to be distorted from the forming of the indentations 46. Corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference characters yas in FIGURES 2-4. The cap 175 has a large circular opening 178 and a small circular opening 179. These openings are of the same shape as the areas 168 and 160, respectively, of the hub 159. It is desirable to have the openings in the cap yand hub 4of the same shape, but it will be understood that various shapes may be used, such as the shapes shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

The top wall 42 of the cap 175 is 4substantially dat, and the cap is preferably made of resilient metal, usually of the same kind of metal as the hub 151). The distance from the bottom surface of the top wall d2 of the cap 175 to the level `of the inwardly projecting indentations 46 is correlated with the height of the hub 155 so that the top wall 166 of the hub is flattened down by the cap 175 by the time the indentations 46 engage the cam grooves 3). The correlation is such that the domed contour of the top wall 166 of the hub 159 is slightly tlattened when the cam follower indentations 46 are at the high parts of the cam grooves 39; and the domed contour is pulled down to a much flatter shape when the cam follower indentations 46 move to either end of the cam grooves 30.

This expedient provides greater manufacturing tolerances in the construction of the closure and permits the cap to turn on the hub with less friction while moving from open to closed position; but the closing of the openings is tight enough to prevent leakage because of the flattening out of the domed contour of the hub when the cap is turned into closed position. The resilience of the metal of the top wall 166 maintains a spring-like pressure against the cap and this pressure is resisted by the contact of the cam follower indentations 46 with the upper surfaces of the cam grooves 3i?.

FIGURE 16 shows the areas 168 and 169 punched out to form tabs 168 and 169', respectively. As in the constructions previously described, it is desirable to have the areas 168 and 169 weakened around their entire perimeters except along lines which are to form hinge connections on which the tabs can swing inwardly. Thus, the

Y over at least part of its area.

tabs 163 and 169 remain connected to the hub. If desired, a liner can be used under the hub 159 in the manner illustrated and previously described in connection with FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 17 shows the cap 175 turned into a position where the openings 178 and 179 are out of register with the areas 163 and 169 when the cap is in closed position.

FIGURE 18 shows a can or cannister 184 with a closure structure 186 attached to the top edge of the side wall of the can 134. In this modication of the invention, the closure structure 186 is preferably the same as shown in FIGURES 11-17 except that it is attached to the top edge of the side wall of the can instead of being attached to the top edge of an upstanding flange around an opening in the top wall.

The can 184 has no top wall except such as is provided by the closure structure 186. This makes the closure structure much larger in proportion to the cross section of the can, and an opening 18S in the closure structure 136 can oe made large enough for pouring peanuts or other fairly large pieces from the can 184.

FIGURE 19 shows a modification of the invention for use with a bottle instead of a can or cannister. A hub 192 constructed of plastic is applied to a bottle 193 with a tight tit over the lip of the bottle. The hub 192 has a domed surface `on its top wall but the top wall is thicker at its center region so that the inside surface is convex The hub 192 has cam grooves therein; and there is an outer cap that fits over the hub 192 with cam follower indentations 46 that hold the cap 193 on the hub and cause it to operate toward and from the top surface of the hub as already described for the other caps. In the case of FIGURE 19, there are pour openings 194 and vent openings 195 formed in the hub and cap when they are manufactured and before being applied to the bottle.

For some purposes, for example with edible oils that become rancid, the depression around the bottom of the hub of FIGURE 11 and FIGURE 12 is objectionable. Liquid that gets into that depression does not flow out easily.

FIGURE 20 shows a construction similar to FIGURES 11 and 12 but without a depression around the hub in the finished structure. In FIGURE 20 a top wall 202 has an opening 294 and is formed with an annular recess 2126 around the opening 2114 to stiffen the top wall at that region. A rim 298 extends downwardly and the rim has a flaring upper end providing a shoulder 209.

A hub 21@ has a circumferential corrugation 212 extending outwardly and fitting loosely into the opening 264 above the shoulder 209. The shoulder provides a stop for limiting the extent to which 4the lower end of the hub tits into the opening 204; the hub preferably fitting snugly into the open cross section within the rim 258 below the shoulder.

There is a clearance between the corrugation 212 and the upper end of the rim 208. This clearance is lled with solder 214 to leave the surface around the hub substantially flush with the adjacent top surface of the wall 202.

FIGURE 21 shows a construction which is the same as that of FIGURE 20 except that a hub 215 has a corrugation formed in its side wall and which is then collapsed axially to provide a ilange 216 that serves the same purpose as the corrugation 212 of FIGURE 20, but the flange 216 of FIGURE 2l can be used with a higher shoulder 218 in the opening through the can top.

The upper portions of the hubs shown in FIGURES 2O and 21 are preferably the same as in FIGURES 11 and 12 and corresponding parts are designated by the same reference characters.

The preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, but changes and modifications can be made, and some features can be used in different 9 combinations without departing from the invention as deiined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. ln a closure structure of the class wherein a cylindrical hub is attached to a container and the cylindrical hub has a side wall and a top wall with an opening therein, and a cap rits over the hub and has a side wall and a top wall adjacent to the corresponding walls of the hub, and the cap oscillates on the hub to bring an opening through the cap into register with the opening through the top wall of the hub, and there are cam means on the confronting side walls of the hub and cap including a cam track on one of the walls and a cam follower on the other of said walls with the cam track shaped to pull the top walls together when the openings through the top walls are in register and when they are shifted out of overlapping relation with one another, the intermediate portion of the cam track rising progressively and then running down again between the portions of the track that pull the top walls together, the improvement which comprises,

(a) a resilient top wall on the hub having a domed contour across the center portion of the top Wall, the top wall of the cap being atter than said contour,

(b) the cam track and follower being correlated with the heights of the hub and cap to hold the cap down on the hub and flatten the dome-shaped contour for all positions of the follower along the cam track,

(c) the closure structure being on a container in which goods are sold and the opening in the hub being originally closed by a portion of the hub extending over the area of the hub in which the opening is to be made by the ultimate consumer,

(d) the top wall of the hub having a depressed area at the location Where the opening through the top wall of the hub is to be made, and

(e) the closure structure being applied to the upper edge of a cylindrical container and forming the entire top ofthe container.

2. A closure structure for a container including,

(a) a cylindrical hub fixed to the container and having at least one cam groove therein, the cam groove extending around a substantial angular extent of the circumference of the hub and having a component parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylindrical hub,

(b) the cylindrical hub having a resilient top wall with a domed contour across the center portion of the top wall,

(c) a cap that lits over the hub and that has a top wall and a side wall adjacent to the corresponding parts of the hub, the top wall of the cap being tlatter than said domed contour of the hub,

(d) the top wall of the cap having an opening therethrough in position to register with an opening through the top wall of the hub to provide a discharge outlet for the container when the cap is in position to bring the openings into register,

(e) the cap being made of stii material and having an inside surface of its Wall in Contact with at least a portion of the wall of the hub as a bearing, and at least one hub of one-piece construction with the wall of the cap and extending inwardly from the inside surface of the cap and into the cam groove in the wall of the hub permanently to connect the cap to the hub and container and make rotation of the cap cause some movement of the top of the cap toward and from the top of the hub,

the domed contour of the hub being deformed to the atter shape of the top of the cap by contact therewith when the cap is moved down toward the top of the hub at the end of the rotary movement of the cap to effect a leak-proof seal.

3. A closure structure for a bottle which has (a) a lip and a circumferential shoulder extending from its outside surface at a distance below the lip and facing in the direction opposite to the lip,

lil

(b) a cylindrical hub permanently secured to the bottle by a lower edge portion of the hub engaged behind the circumferential shoulder of the bottle,

(c) the hub having a side wall surrounding the bottle above said shoulder and having a resilient top wall which has a domed contour over at least its center portion and which extends across and closes the mouth of the bottle,

(d) a cap that lits over the hub and that has a top wall flatter than the domed contour of the hub and with an outlet opening therein, the cap being rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the hub and into position to bring the opening into register with an area of the hub through which an opening is provided for pouring liquid contents from the bottle, the cap being rotatable into another position to overlie an imperforate portion of the top wall of the hub to close the bottle against evaporation or discharge of liquid therefrom, and

(e) a cam groove and a follower, one of which is in the hub and the other of which is in the cap, the cam groove extending in a direction which has a component parallel to the axis of rotation of the cap for moving the top wall of the cap toward and from the top wall of the hub as the cap is moved angularly about its axis,

(f) the domed contour of the hub being deformed to the llatter shape of the top of the cap by contact therewith when the cap is moved down toward the top of the hub at the end of the rotary movement of the cap to effect the leak-proof seal.

4. The closure structure described in claim 3 and in which the area of the top of the hub through which the opening is provided is originally an imperforate area with score lines on which it shears when pressure is applied to it through the opening in the cap when the cap opening is in register with the score area.

5. The closure structure described in claim 4 and in which the hub and cap are each of one-piece construction, and the inner face of the side Wall of the cap turns on the side wall of the hub as a bearing, a liner clamped against the lip of the bottle by the top of the hub, said liner extending across the entire mouth of the bottle to protect the underside of the top of the hub from contact with the contents of the bottle, the cap having a vent opening therein diametrically opposite the outlet opening, and the top wall of the hub having an area through which a second opening is provided for register with the vent opening of the cap when the cap is in position to bring its outlet opening in register with the outlet opening area of the hub.

6. The closure structure described in claim 3 and in which the hub and cap are each of one-piece construction and the hub has a circumferential ridged area extending around its wall and the cap turns on the hub as a bearing but has a region of increased inside diameter over the ridged area of the hub so as to provide a clearance between the cap and the ridged area of the hub, the longitudinal component of the carn groove extending in opposite directions from a mid point so as to pull the cap into contact with the top of the hub when the cap is turned into either the position of register of the outlet openings or the position at the other end of its range of movement Where it closes the bottle.

7. A closure structure for a container including (a) a hub portion permanently secured to the container and having a top surface and opposite side walls merging with the top surface along corresponding edges which are substantially parallel to one another,

(b) a cap which fits over the hub and which has a top above the top of the hub and longitudinally straight side walls extending downwardly across the side walls of the hub, the cap being movable longitudinally along the top of the hub into position to expose an opening through the top of the hub,

(c) a cam groove and a cam follower, one of which is in the hub and the other of which is in a side wall of 1 1 the cap for holding the cap permanently connected with the hub,

(d) he cam groove extending generally parallel to the direcion of slicing movement of the cap on the hub but having a component of extent which moves the cam follower upwardly and downwardly with respec to the top of the hub to draw the cap into rm Contact with the top of the hub when the carn follower moves in at leas one direcion along the cam groove.

8. The closure srucure described in claim 7 and in which the cam groove slopes downwardly from a high 12 mid point to pull the cap into Contact with the hub when the cap is at either end or" its stroke.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,123,966 7/38 Mosbach et al. 222-541 X 2,123,907 7/38 Masbach et al. 222-520 2,533,915 12/50 Brooks 222-520 X 3,125,260 3/64 Dreps 222-565 X UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3,199,749 August l0, 1965 Anthony F. Driscoll It is hereby certified that error appears in the above mmbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 9, line 60, for "hub", second occurrence, read nub Signed and sealed this 8th day of March 1966.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer -EDWARD I. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A CLOSURE STRUCTURE OF THE CLASS WHEREIN A CYLINDRICAL HUB IS ATTACHED TO A CONTAINER AND THE CYLINDRICAL HUB HAS A SIDE WALL AND A TOP WALL WITH AN OPENING THERE-IN, AND A CAP FITS OVER THE HUB AND HAS A SIDE WALL AND A TOP WALL ADJACENT TO THE CORRESPONDING WALLS OF THE HUB, AND THE CAP OSCILLATES ON THE HUB TO BRING AN OPENING THROUGH THECAP INTO REGISTER WITH THE OPENING THROUGH THE TOP WALL OF THE HUB, AND THERE ARE CAM MEANS ON THE CONFRONTING SIDE WALLS OF THE HUB AND CAP INCLUDING A CAM TRACK ON ONE OF THE WALLS AND CAM FOLLOWER ON THE OTHER OF SAID WALLS WITH THE CAM TRACK SHAPED TO PULL THE TOP WALLS TOGETHER WHEN THE OPENINGS THROUGH THE TOP WALLS ARE IN REGISTER AND WHEN THEY ARE SHIFTED OUT OF OVERLAPPING RELATION WIGH ONE ANOTHER, THE INTERMEDIATE PORTION OF THE CAM TRACK RISING PROGRESSIVELY AND THEN RUNNING DOWN AGAIN BETWEEN THE PORTIONS OF THE TRACK THAT PULL THE TOP WALLS TOGETHER, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, (A) A RESILIENT TOP WALL ON THE HUB HAVING A DOMED CONTOUR ACROSS THE CENTER PORTION OF THE TOP WALL, THE TOP WALL OF THE CAP BEING FLATTER THAN SAID CONTOUR, (B) THE CAM TRACK AND FOLLOWER BEING CORRELATED WITH THE HEIGHTS OF THE HUB AND CAP TO HOLD THE CAP DOWN ON THE HUB AND FLATTEN THE DOME-SHAPED CONTOUR FOR ALL POSITIONS OF THE FOLLOWER ALONG THE CAM TRACK, (C) THE CLOSURE STRUCTURE BEING ON A CONTAINER IN WHICH GOODS ARE SOLD AND THE OPENING IN THE HUB BEING ORIGI-NALLY CLOSED BY A PORTION OF THE HUB EXTENDING OVER THE AREA OF THE HUB IN WHICH THE OPENING IS TO BE MADE BY THE ULTIMATE CONSUMER, (D) THE TOP WALL OF THE HUB HAVING A DEPRESSED AREA AT THE LOCATION WHERE THE OPENING THROUGH THE TOP WALL OF THE HUB IS TO BE MADE, AND (E) THE CLOSURE STRUCTURE BEING APPLIED TO THE UPPER EDGE OF A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER AND FORMING THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE CONTAINER. 